(BPT) - Great businesses thrive in great communities. But how can a fashion retailer make a difference? Ross Dress for Less® and the Ross Stores Foundation found the answer by focusing on the future.
Ross takes pride in serving diverse communities around the country and has long known that investing in those communities benefits everyone - customers, employees and Ross as well. In 2009, Ross recognized an opportunity to help build better communities from the ground up by supporting the next generation of residents. They launched a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which continues to grow to this day.
"Our entire Ross team has been proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America for the past 16 years, and we love being part of their ongoing efforts to help kids grow, learn, and develop in fun, safe spaces," said Group Senior Vice President of Ross Stores, Matt Young. "Boys & Girls Clubs are at the heart of the communities where both our associates and our customers live and work, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to support their programs that help kids achieve their goals."
Making a tangible impact for kids
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow, with clubs offering caring adult mentors, friendship, and youth development programs on a daily basis - especially during those crucial after-school hours.
To reach as many kids as possible, the Ross Stores Foundation serves as a national sponsor of the youth organization's Power Hour homework help program, which addresses kids' immediate academic needs and fosters long-term skills such as time management, critical thinking and problem-solving.
Ross has also teamed up with more than 39 Boys & Girls Club organizations in cities and communities, which in turn represent more than 100 individual Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.
Additionally, this year's annual fundraiser at Ross Dress for Less stores, which took place from February 8 to March 2, raised a whopping $4.1 million for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Over the past 10 years, this campaign has raised more than $32 million, thanks to the generosity of Ross Dress for Less associates and customers.
An ongoing commitment
Ross recently renewed its commitment to their partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, further showcasing their dedication to supporting and expanding programs for thousands of kids across the country, designed to help them achieve their dreams.
The ongoing partnership enables program improvements in Clubs nationwide, helping ensure young people will have access to the most relevant, updated tools to achieve academic success.
The partnership also includes Ross recognizing Boys & Girls Club teens for their achievements by offering a scholarship program for eligible high-achieving college-bound high school seniors at select Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation. These scholarships are intended to cover education-related expenses for undergraduate studies at accredited 2- or 4-year colleges or vocational technical schools.
"At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we strongly believe all young people deserve the opportunity to excel academically, develop new skills and reach their full potential," said Lisa Anastasi, Executive Vice President and Chief Development & External Relations Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "We're grateful for dedicated partners like Ross that continue to invest in our mission as we bring social support and learning resources to more kids and teens in communities across the country."
Learn more about the partnership between Ross and Boys & Girls Clubs of America at RossStores.com and BGCA.org.
